Former Vice Minister Lee Yong-gu Files Administrative Lawsuit to Cancel Disciplinary Action Against Police Officer in 'Leniency Controversy'

Former Seocho Police Station Criminal Division Chief Files Lawsuit to Cancel Suspension Disciplinary Action

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] A police officer who was disciplined for failing to properly handle the assault case involving former Deputy Minister of Justice Lee Yong-gu and a taxi driver has filed an administrative lawsuit.

According to the legal community on the 17th, Mr. A, former head of the criminal division at Seocho Police Station, recently filed a lawsuit at the Seoul Administrative Court against the Commissioner of the National Police Agency to cancel his suspension.

Former Deputy Minister Lee was indicted last September on charges including grabbing and pushing the neck of taxi driver Mr. A, who tried to wake him up while he was intoxicated in front of his apartment in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on November 6, 2020.

Immediately after the incident, the police closed the investigation because the victim did not want to press charges. After Lee was appointed deputy minister at the end of 2020 and the incident became public, a reinvestigation was conducted.

The investigator in charge at the time was found to have watched the black box footage showing the assault but did not report it, raising controversy over whether the investigation was a 'cover-up.'

In October last year, the National Police Agency held a disciplinary committee and suspended Mr. A and the head of the criminal team. The investigator responsible for the case was dismissed.

Meanwhile, former Deputy Minister Lee is currently undergoing a first trial on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes and instructing evidence destruction.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.